Chhabili Pure Cotton Navratri Chaniya Choli

Chhabili is a Navratri chaniya choli cut as a peplum set rather than the usual blouse and dupatta. A gathered top falls to mid thigh over an eight metre skirt, and a matching purse on a sling comes with every colourway — so there is no dupatta to keep re-pinning through a garba, and nothing left to hunt for on the night.

All four are pure cotton. The work sits on the top rather than the skirt, which is what lets the flair stay clean and move properly when you turn.

The four colourways

• Off White Kashida — dense blue Kashida across the whole yoke, geometric bands and scallops, with a pair of facing parrots embroidered on the back. The quietest of the four and the one that reads best under warm garba lighting.
• Green Gota — gota striped yoke in gold, silver and blue over deep green, a royal blue frill peeking out under the peplum, and a kutchi work purse in full colour.
• Rust Kashida — navy Kashida on rust, elephant motifs across the V neckline and a band running through the back, with a navy embroidered purse.
• Beige Teal — a teal cropped jacket with gota trim and beaded edging worn over the beige skirt, with a mirror work band across the back of the jacket.

Why pure cotton for garba

Most festive lehengas are built to be photographed, not danced in. Heavy net and georgette look the part standing still, then turn into a problem three rounds in — they hold heat, they cling, and the flair goes flat once the fabric is damp.

Cotton behaves differently. It breathes through a long night, it moves away from the body instead of sticking to it, and it dries as you dance. At 1.300 kg the set is substantial enough to swing properly on a turn without being a burden by the last round.

Details

• Fabric: Pure cotton
• Work: Kashida and Gamthi work on the top, front and back
• Flair: 8 metre, stitched with canvas and inner attached
• Lehenga: Length 41", waist fits up to 42"
• Top: 38" standard, with margin to adjust between 36" and 40", length 25"
• Purse: Matching purse on a sling, included with every colourway
• Weight: 1.300 kg
• Design number: NNK1754 — Chhabili

Sizing and fit

The lehenga waist is adjustable and fits comfortably up to 42 inches. The top is stitched to 38 inches with margin left inside, so a tailor can take it in to 36 or let it out to 40 in a few minutes — worth doing in the week before Navratri rather than on the way to the ground.

Lehenga length is 41 inches from waist to hem, which sits at the ankle on most heights between 5'2" and 5'6". Taller than that, wear it with a heel. Shorter, the hem can be taken up without touching any of the work, because all the embroidery sits on the top rather than the skirt.

The top's own length is 25 inches. The peplum is cut to stand away from the body rather than sit fitted — that flare is the point of the silhouette.

What you receive

Lehenga, top and matching purse. The canvas and inner are already attached to the skirt and the top arrives stitched, so the set is wearable straight out of the packet apart from any fit adjustment you choose to make. There is no dupatta with this design — the top is cut to be worn on its own.

Styling it

Oxidised silver rather than gold on all four. These are graphic, single-accent sets and silver keeps them that way, where gold pulls the whole thing towards wedding wear. Heavy kadas stacked on one wrist, long jhumkas and a ring or two is the entire brief.

Stone earrings that pick up the accent colour — blue for the off white and rust, red or multicolour for the green — carry the thread up to the face. Keep the hair back, a sleek centre parting or a low ponytail finished with tassels, so the embroidered yoke and the work on the back stay visible while you turn.

Care

First wash separately by hand in cold water. The off white takes up colour from anything deeper sharing the bucket, and thread this dense can bleed a little the first time. Dry in shade. Press the embroidery from the reverse side, and store the set folded rather than hung, so the flair does not pull out of shape at the waist.

Part of the Navratri Collection 2026. Browse the rest of the Navratri chaniya choli range, or see every lehenga in stock. Free shipping on orders over ₹5,000.